Method of automatically switching mode of work screen of digital content authoring tool

ABSTRACT

Provided is a screen mode switching method performed by a digital content authoring terminal. The method include switching a mode of the work area to an edit mode without an input for switching the mode of the work area to the edit mode in response to a user input made to select a first user interface (UI) object for executing a first function, not made to switch the mode of the work area to the edit mode, and switching the mode of the work area to an execution mode without an input for switching the mode of the work area to the execution mode in response to a user input made to select a second UI object for executing a second function different from the first function, not made to switch the mode of the work area to the execution.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/553,270, filed on Aug. 28, 2019, which claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No.10-2018-0122920 filed on Oct. 16, 2018, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a method of automatically switching amode of a work screen of a digital content authoring tool, and moreparticularly, to a screen mode switching method in which a digitalcontent authoring terminal automatically switches a current mode of awork area of an authoring tool for authoring digital content to an editmode or an execution mode by determining a necessary work area accordingto a user's input.

2. Description of the Related Art

Digital content to be executed, such as an application of a smart deviceor a flash, is essentially required to be simulated in an authoringprocess.

However, a conventional digital content authoring tool executes digitalcontent using an instance such as a program or a window to checkresponses of the digital content to a user's triggers while editinggraphic user interface (GUI) components of the digital content.Accordingly, the user has to use a number of instances to alternatebetween editing and execution of the digital content. Therefore, it isrequired to provide a method by which a digital content authoring toolcan efficiently edit digital content and simulate intermediate outputsin a parallel manner without changing instances.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method of automaticallyswitching a mode of a work area of a digital content authoring toolwithout a user's input for switching the mode of the work area.

Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a method of increasing aprobability that a mode to which a mode of a work area is switched willmatch a mode desired by a user by switching the mode of the work area tothe desired mode without the user's input.

Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a method of increasingintuitiveness of a mode to which a mode of a work area is automaticallychanged by changing a graphic user interface (GUI) of a digital contentauthoring tool when the mode of the work area is switched.

However, aspects of the present disclosure are not restricted to the oneset forth herein. The above and other aspects of the present disclosurewill become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present disclosure pertains by referencing the detailed descriptionof the present disclosure given below.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided ascreen mode switching method performed by a digital content authoringterminal, and the method comprising switching a mode of the work area toan edit mode without an input for switching the mode of the work area tothe edit mode in response to a user input made to select a first userinterface (UI) object for executing a first function, not made to switchthe mode of the work area to the edit mode, and switching the mode ofthe work area to an execution mode without an input for switching themode of the work area to the execution mode in response to a user inputmade to select a second UI object for executing a second functiondifferent from the first function, not made to switch the mode of thework area to the execution, wherein the edit mode is a mode for editingan object constituting the digital content, and the execution mode is amode for simulating the digital content.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda screen mode switching method performed by a digital content authoringterminal which displays a digital content authoring interface, whereinthe digital content authoring interface comprising a work areadisplaying digital content being authored, and the method comprisesdisplaying a simulation area, which must be secured to simulate thedigital content, in the work area in an execution mode for simulatingthe digital content and switching a mode of the work area to an editmode without an input for switching the mode of the work area inresponse to a user input to an area outside the simulation area, whereinthe edit mode is a mode for editing an object constituting the digitalcontent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a digital content authoringsystem according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a screen in which a conventional digital contentauthoring tool uses an instance to simulate digital content;

FIG. 3 illustrates a graphic user interface (GUI) that can be displayedon a computing device for executing a method of automatically switchinga mode of a work area of a digital content authoring tool according toan embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates the work area whose mode is switched from anexecution mode to an edit mode when a first UI object is selectedaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen displayed when the work area of the digitalcontent authoring tool is in the edit mode according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates the work area whose mode is switched from the editmode to the execution mode when a second UI object is selected accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates the work area whose mode is switched to the executionmode by selection of a second UI object when a viewpoint is outside asimulation area in the edit mode according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically switchingthe mode of the work area of the digital content authoring tool when auser selects a UI object according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates the work area whose mode is switched to the edit modeby a user's mouseover input to a first area according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 illustrates the work area whose mode is switched to theexecution mode by a user's mouseover input to a second area according toan embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining, in detail, a mouseover forswitching the mode of the work area according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically switchingthe mode of the work area of the digital content authoring tool inresponse to a user's mouseover input to a specific area according to anembodiment;

FIG. 13 illustrates the work area whose mode is switched to the editmode by a user's input to an area outside the simulation area when thework area is in the execution mode according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 illustrates a screen in which a UI object outside the simulationarea is disabled and the mode of the work area is switched from the editmode to the execution mode by selection of a second UI object accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically switchingthe mode of the work area of the digital content authoring tool inresponse to a user input to the area outside the simulation area whenthe work area is in the execution mode according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of a digital content authoringterminal according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the attached drawings. Advantages andfeatures of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the samemay be understood more readily by reference to the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Thepresent invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forthherein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosurewill be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of theinvention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention willonly be defined by the appended claims. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Further, itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized oroverly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. The terms usedherein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only andis not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

The terms “comprise”, “include”, “have”, etc. when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or combinations of them but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinationsthereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the drawings.

Digital content, as used herein, denotes content digitally created bycombining various forms of information such as text, voice, image, andvideo. The digital content is executed by signals of a computing deviceand composed of static elements and dynamic elements. The staticelements and the dynamic elements will be described in detail later withreference to FIG. 3. Examples of the digital content may includeapplications, flashes, moving images, and prototypes.

In addition, a work area, as used herein, denotes an area where digitalcontent produced by a digital content authoring terminal is displayed.That is, the work area is an area where objects constituting the digitalcontent are displayed. The work area will be described in detail laterwith reference to FIG. 3.

In addition, a simulation area, as used herein, denotes an area thatmust be secured to simulate digital content and a portion that isactually displayed on a screen of a digital content execution terminal.That is, an object located outside the simulation area in the work areais an element constituting the digital content but is not displayed whenthe digital content is executed. The simulation area will be describedin detail later with reference to FIG. 3.

In addition, a user input, as used herein, includes various forms ofsignals input to the digital content execution terminal or the digitalcontent authoring terminal through an input device such as a keyboard, amouse, or a touch screen. For example, as a user input, a user mayselect a user interface (UI) object displayed on a prototyping tool byusing a mouse.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the attached drawings.

The configuration and operation of a digital content authoring systemaccording to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital content authoring system according tothe current embodiment includes a digital content authoring terminal 110and a digital content execution terminal 120.

The digital content execution terminal 120 is a computing device such asa tablet computer, a smartphone, a notebook computer, or a personalcomputer (PC). A prototype execution terminal will be described hereinas an example of the digital content execution terminal 120, and aprototype reproduction tool which is user application software isinstalled in the prototype execution terminal. The prototypereproduction tool is user application software that interprets aprototype and implements a user interface defined in the prototype. Thedigital content execution terminal 120 will also be referred to as anexecution terminal.

The digital content authoring terminal 110 is a computing device such asa tablet computer, a smartphone, a PC, or a notebook computer. Aprototyping terminal will be described herein as an example of thedigital content authoring terminal 110, and a prototyping tool which isa user application or embedded software of the computing device isinstalled in the prototyping terminal. The digital content authoringterminal 110 will also be referred to as a production terminal or anauthoring terminal.

A digital content authoring tool capable of executing a digital contentauthoring method according to an embodiment is stored in the digitalcontent authoring terminal 110. Here, the digital content authoring toolcan be considered as a kind of software and is an authoring tool thatsupports a user's digital content authoring activities. When a userexecutes the digital content authoring tool through the digital contentauthoring terminal 110, a digital content authoring interface (see FIG.3) is executed, digital content is generated through certain inputs, andthe generated digital content is executed on the digital contentexecution terminal 120. That is, it can be understood that the digitalcontent authoring terminal 110 is a terminal for generating digitalcontent through the digital content authoring interface and the digitalcontent execution terminal 120 is a terminal for executing the generateddigital content.

The digital content authoring terminal 110 and the digital contentexecution terminal 120 are computing devices that can be connected toeach other through a network. A network interface is included in thedigital content authoring terminal 110. Here, examples of the networkinclude both wired and wireless networks such as a wire local areanetwork (LAN), WiFi, Bluetooth and Zigbee will be described in detailwith reference to FIG. 16. Examples of the computing devices may includeall devices having network capabilities, such as desktop computers,notebook computers, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), andtablet PCs.

In addition, according to an embodiment, the digital content authoringterminal 110 may upload a generated prototype to a server 130 which maybe accessed via the digital content execution terminal 120 to download aprototype. The digital content execution terminal 120 may receive thegenerated prototype directly from the digital content authoring terminal110 or from the server 130.

Prior to the description of the present disclosure, reference will bemade to FIG. 2 so as to describe differences from a conventional art.FIG. 2 illustrates a screen in which a conventional digital contentauthoring tool 200 uses an instance 220 to simulate digital content.

To simulate digital content produced by the conventional digital contentauthoring tool 200, a user's input 201 to a UI object 210 having afunction of simulating digital content is required. In response to theuser's input 201, the instance 220 is created, and the digital contentis simulated as indicated by reference numeral 221. Therefore, a user'sinput is required to simulate digital content, and an instance has to beused to display the simulated digital content.

The present disclosure does not require an instance and a user's inputto simulate digital content. Therefore, the efficiency of the digitalcontent authoring tool can be improved. The present disclosure will nowbe described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 through 16.

The method according to the current embodiment may be executed by acomputing device. The computing device may be the digital contentauthoring terminal 110 of FIG. 1. The digital content authoring terminal110 may be a device in which the digital content authoring tool isinstalled. The digital content authoring tool may be software basicallyinstalled at the time of manufacturing the digital content authoringterminal 110 or may be application software installed by a user.

Referring to FIG. 3, a graphic user interface (GUI) 301 of a digitalcontent authoring tool according to an embodiment may further include awork area 330, a first area 310 in which a first UI object for editingstatic elements of an object 332 constituting digital content islocated, and a second area 320 in which dynamic elements of the object332 are edited.

The static elements, as used herein, denote static characteristics ofthe object 332 constituting the digital content and characteristics thatcan be identified without simulating the digital content. For example,in the case of a prototyping tool of an application, editing a layerwhich is an area to be divided by a user in an edit mode or changing oradding the position of an object is called editing a static element.

The dynamic elements, as used herein, denote dynamic characteristics ofthe object 332 constituting the digital content and characteristics thatcan be identified by simulating the digital content. For example, in thecase of the prototyping tool, editing and executing a trigger which is auser's input to a prototype, a response which is a response of theprototype to the trigger, and an interaction which indicates theconnection relationship between the trigger and the response are calledediting dynamic elements.

To facilitate understanding, embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described based on the assumption that the digital content authoringtool is a prototyping tool. However, it should be noted that the scopeof the present disclosure is not limited to the prototyping tool.

The prototyping tool 301 may have an interface including the first area310 in which static elements can be edited, that is, objects and layerscan be added, removed and modified, the second area 320 in which dynamicelements can be edited, that is, triggers and responses can be added,removed and modified, and the work area 330 in which a producedprototype is displayed.

The first area 310 is composed of first UI objects 311 and 312 thatfunction to add and edit layers and objects of a prototype. For example,when a user desiring to display layer 1 of the prototype selects a firstUI object 311 having a function of displaying layer 1, layer 1 may bedisplayed in the work area 330. If a first UI object 321 for editingobject A 332 is selected, object A 332 can be edited.

According to an embodiment, selecting a first UI object may cause a modeof the work area 330 to be switched to an edit mode in addition tomaking it possible to edit static elements. The edit mode will bedescribed in detail later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The second area 320 may be composed of second UI objects 321 thatfunction to add and edit triggers and responses of a prototype. Forexample, if a user desires to set object A 332 to move as a responsewhen the user's drag trigger is input to object A 332, the user mayselect a second UI object 321 performing this function to set a triggerand a response for object A 332.

According to an embodiment, selecting a second UI object 321 may causethe mode of the work area 330 to be switched to an execution mode inaddition to making it possible to edit dynamic elements. The executionmode will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The work area 330 displays a prototype produced by the prototyping tool.In addition, the work area 330, as well as the first area 310 and thesecond area 320, may perform prototyping by receiving a user's input.For example, to modify the position of the object 332, the object 332may be moved by selecting and dragging the object 332 located in thework area 330. In addition, the position of a simulation area 340 may bechanged by selecting and dragging the simulation area 340. A case wherenot all of the simulation area 340 is displayed in the work area 330will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 7.

In addition, the work area 330 may perform different operations in theedit mode and the execution mode according to a user's input, and, whenthe mode of the work area 330 is switched, the GUI of the prototypingtool may be changed to increase the user's intuition. This will bedescribed in detail later with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

The simulation area 340 is an area that must be secured to execute aprototype and is a portion that is displayed on a screen of theprototype execution terminal when the prototype is executed. When themode of the work area 330 is switched, a frame surrounding thesimulation area 340 may be added or removed so that a user candistinguish the mode of the work area 330.

A case where the mode of the work area 330 is switched from theexecution mode to the edit mode will now be described with reference toFIG. 4.

In a state where the work area 330 of the prototyping tool is in anexecution mode 330 a, if a user selects a first UI object 311, the modeof the work area 330 is automatically switched from the execution mode330 a to an edit mode 330 b.

For example, in the state where the work area 330 is in the executionmode 330 a, if a user selects the UI object 311 having the function ofdisplaying layer 1, the mode of the work area 330 is automaticallyswitched to the edit mode 330 b without the user's input because theuser will have to use the edit mode 330 b to edit a layer and an objectin the work area 330. If the user selects the first UI object 311 in astate where the work area 330 of the prototyping tool is already in theedit mode 330 b, the mode of the work area 330 may not be switched.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the edit mode 330 b, a pointer 402 in the simulation area340 in the execution mode 330 a may be changed to another shape 302.Through this change in the pointer 402, a user can intuitively recognizean input to a prototype simulated by the prototype execution terminal.

According to an embodiment, a frame 341 surrounding the simulation area340 in an interface of the work area 330 may be removed when the mode ofthe work area 330 is switched to the edit mode 330 b. For example, theframe 341 surrounding the simulation area 340 may take the form of theprototype execution terminal. Therefore, a user may intuitivelyrecognize that the work area 330 of the prototyping tool is in theexecution mode 330 a and that a prototype can be simulated in theexecution mode 330 a as on the prototype execution terminal. The changein the interface of the work area 330 may increase the intuitiveness ofmode switching of the work area 330.

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen displayed when the work area 330 of thedigital content authoring tool is in the edit mode according to anembodiment.

According to an embodiment, in the edit mode, it should be possible toedit not only objects 332 and 333 existing inside the simulation area340 and displayed for prototype simulation in the execution mode butalso an object 331 existing outside the simulation area 340. When themode of the work area 330 is switched to the edit mode by the selectionof first UI objects 312, 313 and 314, the object 331 existing outsidethe simulation area 340 and not displayed in the execution mode isdisplayed. Objects not displayed in the execution mode will be describedlater with reference to FIG. 6. Since the object 331 existing outsidethe simulation area 340 is displayed, a user can also recognize that thework area 330 is in the edit mode 330 b.

For example, when the mode of the work area 330 is switched to the editmode 330 b after a user selects the first UI object 312 to displayobject A 331, not only the objects 332 and 333 displayed inside thesimulation area 340 but also the object 331 located outside thesimulation area 340 and a portion, which exists outside the simulationarea 340, of the object 333 located at a boundary of the simulation area340 are displayed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a screen displayed when the mode of the workarea 330 of the digital content authoring tool is switched to theexecution mode according to an embodiment.

A case where the mode of the work area 330 is switched from the editmode to the execution mode will now be described with reference to FIG.6. In a state where the work area 330 of the prototyping tool is in theedit mode 330 a, if a user selects a second UI object 321 as indicatedby reference numeral 302, the work area 330 may be switched from theedit mode 330 a to the execution mode 330 b.

For example, in the state where the work area 330 is in the edit mode330 a, if a user selects a second UI object 321 having a function ofdefining an interaction in which object A moves in response to theuser's drag input, the mode of the work area 330 is automaticallyswitched to the execution mode 330 b without the user's input becausethe user will simulate a prototype in the work area 330 to check thefunction after the selection 302. If the user selects the second UIobject 321 in the state where the work area 330 of the prototyping toolis already in the execution mode 330 b, the mode of the work area 330may not be switched.

According to an embodiment, if the mode of the work area 330 is switchedto the execution mode 330 b, the shape of the pointer may be changed toa shape 402 different from that of the pointer 302 in the edit mode 330a as the pointer enters the simulation area 340. If the pointer ischanged as it enters the simulation area 340 in the execution mode 330b, a user can recognize that a user input to a prototype executed by theprototype execution terminal is simulated.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the execution mode 330 b, the frame 341 surrounding thesimulation area 340 may be added to the interface of the work area 330.For example, if a prototype being produced is a prototype of anapplication executed on a smartphone terminal, the frame 341 in the formof the smartphone may be added to the outside of the simulation area340. As the frame 341 is added to the outside of the simulation area340, a user may intuitively recognize that the application of thesmartphone can now be simulated in the work area 330.

A case where an object outside the simulation area 340 is not displayedwhen the mode of the work area 330 is switched to the execution mode 330b and a change in viewpoint will now be described with reference to FIG.7.

According to an embodiment, since only an area displayed on theprototype execution terminal is simulated in the execution mode 330 b,there is no need to simulate a prototype interface existing outside thesimulation area 340 b. Therefore, when the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the execution mode 330 b, an object existing outside thesimulation area 340 b is not displayed. In addition, since the objectexisting outside the simulation area 340 b is not displayed, a user canrecognize that the work area 330 is in the execution mode 330 b.

For example, when the work area 330 is in the edit mode 330 a, an object332 a located inside the simulation area 340 a, an object 331 locatedoutside the simulation area 340 a, and an object 333 a located at theboundary of the simulation area 340 a are displayed. Then, when the modeof the work area 330 is switched to the execution mode 330 b, the object331 existing outside the simulation area 340 b is not displayed, whereasthe object 332 b existing inside the simulation area 340 b and aportion, which belongs to the simulation area 340 b, of the object 333located at the boundary of the simulation area 340 b are displayed.

According to an embodiment, since a prototype should be simulated in theexecution mode 330 b, the whole of the simulation area 340 b that mustbe secured for the simulation of the prototype should be displayed.Therefore, if the viewpoint is outside the simulation area 340 a in theedit mode 330 a, the viewpoint of the work area 330 may be changed whenthe mode of the work area 330 is switched to the execution mode 330 b.For example, when the viewpoint of the work area 330 is at a center ofthe simulation area 340 b, the simulation area 340 b is located in themiddle of the work area 330. Therefore, when the mode of the work area330 is switched to the execution mode 330 b, the viewpoint of the workarea 330 is adjusted to display the entire simulation area 340 b.

For example, if the object 331 is edited to be located outside thesimulation area 340 a in the work area 330, not all of the simulationarea 340 may be displayed in the work area 330 because the viewpoint isat the object 331. In this case, if the mode of the work area 330 isswitched because a second UI object 321 for dynamic editing of aprototype is selected as indicated by reference numeral 302 in FIG. 7,the viewpoint is changed to display the entire simulation area 340 a inthe work area 330. If the work area 330 of the prototyping tool displaysthe entire simulation area 340 a as illustrated in FIG. 6, the viewpointmay not be changed even when the mode of the work area 330 is switched.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of automatically switchinga mode of a work area in response to a user's input to a digital contentauthoring tool according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, a digital content authoring terminal may receive auser's input to a UI object on a GUI of the digital content authoringtool in operation S510. For example, the user's input may be an input tothe work area or an input to a first UI object or a second UI object.

In operation S520, the user may select a first UI object to edit staticelements. After performing the function, the user is highly likely tocheck edited digital content or perform editing similar to the functionof the first UI object. Therefore, the mode of the work area isautomatically switched to an edit mode in operation S521. If the workarea is already in the edit mode before the user's input is received,the mode of the work area may not be switched.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area is switchedto the edit mode, a pointer and an interface of the work area may bechanged. Accordingly, the user can intuitively recognize the mode switchin operation S522.

In operation S530, the user may select a second UI object to editdynamic elements. After performing the function, the user is highlylikely to execute digital content to check whether the digital contentcorrectly responds to a trigger intended by the user or perform editingsimilar to the function of the second UI object. Therefore, the mode ofthe work area is automatically switched to an execution mode inoperation S531. If the work area is already in the execution mode beforethe user's input is received, the mode of the work area may not beswitched.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area is switchedto the execution mode, the shape of the pointer and the interface of thework area may be changed. Accordingly, the user can intuitivelyrecognize the mode switch in operation S532.

According to an embodiment, it should be possible to simulate thedigital content in the execution mode. Therefore, a viewpoint may beplaced at a simulation area that must be secured to simulate the digitalcontent, and only an object located inside the simulation area may bedisplayed in operation S532.

The automatic mode switching of the work area may be repeatedlyperformed according to the user's input while the user uses the digitalcontent authoring tool.

A method of automatically switching the mode of the work area inresponse to a mouseover input to a specific area in the GUI of thedigital content authoring tool will now be described with reference toFIGS. 9 through 12.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, the GUI of the digitalcontent authoring tool may be configured such that the work area 330 islocated between the first area 310 and the second area 320 in order toclearly distinguish which of the first area 310 and the second area 320the pointer enters. In FIG. 3, the first area 310, the second area 320and the work area 330 are arranged horizontally. However, theconfiguration of the GUI of the digital content authoring tool of thepresent disclosure is not limited to this example, and the first area310, the second area 320 and the work area 330 can be arranged invarious forms. A prototype will be described below as an example ofdigital content.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the work area 330 is in the execution mode 330a, if a user mouse-overs (302 a and 302 b) the first area 310 in whichstatic elements of the prototype can be edited, it can be predicted evenbefore a first UI object in the first area 310 is selected that the userwill edit the static elements. Therefore, the mode of the work area 330is switched to the edit mode 330 b in response to the mouseover input302 a and 302 b to the first area 310.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the edit mode 330 b, the frame 341 surrounding thesimulation area 340 of the prototyping tool may be removed, or the mousepointer 302 c may be changed as described in FIG. 4, thereby increasingthe user's intuition of the mode switch.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the work area 330 is in the edit mode 330 a,if the user mouse-overs (302 a and 302 b) the second area 320 in whichdynamic elements of the prototype can be edited, it can be predictedeven before a second UI object in the second area 320 is selected thatthe user will edit the dynamic elements. Therefore, the mode of the workarea 330 is switched to the execution mode 330 b in response to themouseover input 302 a and 302 b to the second area 320.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the execution mode 330 b, the frame 341 may be added tosurround the simulation area 340 of the prototyping tool, or the mousepointer may be changed as described in FIGS. 6 and 7, thereby increasinga user's intuition of the mode switch.

However, if the mode of the work area 330 is switched by consideringonly an area that the pointer enters, when a user desires to select a UIobject in another area by passing the area that the pointer enters, anunnecessary mode switch may occur against the user's intention.

Therefore, according to an embodiment, the screen of the work area 330may be switched in consideration of whether the pointer 302 a, 302 b and302 c stays in the first area 310 or the second area 320 for a referencetime or longer, whether the moving speed of the pointer is lower than areference speed, coordinates of a position where the pointer stays, etc.In this case, the probability of unnecessary mode switching can bereduced. The reference time, the reference speed, and the coordinates ofa specific position may be values designated by a user or may be averagevalues calculated using the user' data. However, embodiments are notlimited to this case, and the reference time, the reference speed andthe coordinates of the specific position may be determined throughvarious operations and statistics.

For example, referring to FIG. 11, when a user passes the second area320 to go to another area 350 instead of the second area 320, it is notefficient to switch the mode of the work area 330 to the execution modejust because the mouse enters the second area 320. In this case, thepointer 302 a and 302 c will pass the second area 320 at a speed equalto or higher than the reference speed, unlike when entering the secondarea 320 to select a second UI object. Therefore, the mode of the workarea 330 is not switched to the execution mode.

However, if the user mouse-overs (302 a and 302 b) the second area 320to use a second UI object, the pointer moves in the second area 320 at aspeed lower than the reference speed and stays in the second area 320for the reference time or longer. Therefore, the mode of the work area330 is switched to the execution mode.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically switchinga mode of a work area of a digital content authoring tool in response toa user's mouseover input to a specific area according to an embodiment

Referring to FIG. 12, a digital content authoring terminal may receive auser's input to a UI object on a GUI of the digital content authoringtool in operation S610.

When there is a user's mouseover input to a first area in which first UIobjects having a function of editing static elements of objects arelocated in operation S620, the mode of the work area may beautomatically switched to an edit mode in operation S621 according tothe user's intention to select a first UI object.

For example, when a pointer enters the first area to select a UI objectfor adding a layer in operation S620, the mode of the work area may beswitched to the edit mode in operation S621. However, if the work areais already in the edit mode before the user's input is received, themode of the work area may not be switched.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area is switchedto the edit mode, the pointer and a GUI of the work area are changed inoperation S622 so that the user can intuitively recognize the modeswitch.

When there is the user's mouseover input to a second area in whichsecond UI objects having a function of editing dynamic elements ofobjects are located in operation S630, the mode of the work area may beautomatically switched to an execution mode in operation S631 accordingto the user's intention to select a second UI object.

For example, when the pointer enters the second area to select a UIobject for adding a response of an object, the mode of the work area maybe switched to the execution mode. However, if the work area is alreadyin the execution mode before the user's input is received, the mode ofthe work area may not be switched.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area is switchedto the execution mode, the pointer and the GUI of the work area arechanged in operation S632 so that the user can intuitively recognize themode switch.

The automatic mode switching of the work area described above may berepeatedly performed according to the user's input while the user usesthe digital content authoring tool.

A method of automatically switching the mode of the work area of thedigital content authoring tool 301 according to a user's input to anarea outside the simulation area when the work area of the digitalcontent authoring tool is in the execution mode will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 13 through 15. A prototype will be describedbelow as an example of digital content.

Referring to FIG. 13, when the work area 330 is in the execution mode,the mode of the work area 330 is switched to the edit mode in responseto an input 302 to an area outside the simulation area 340 of theprototyping tool 301. Therefore, in the execution mode, a user cannotproduce a prototype using a UI object outside the simulation area 340and can only simulate a prototype in the simulation area 340.

According to an embodiment, when the work area 330 is in the executionmode, a GUI outside the simulation area 340 of the prototyping tool maybe changed. For example, the area outside the simulation area 340 isshaded in FIG. 13. However, the area outside the simulation area 340 canalso be blurred, defocused, etc. as long as it can be distinguished fromthe simulation area 340 and enable a user to intuitively recognize thata UI object outside the simulation area 340 has been disabled.

Therefore, when there is a user's input 302 to a UI object outside thesimulation area 340, the mode of the work area 330 is automaticallyswitched to the edit mode because it is considered that the user intendsto end the execution mode and edit the GUI of the prototype.

A case where the mode of the work area 330 of the prototyping tool isswitched to the execution mode when a user selects (302) a second UI 321in the edit mode will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

For example, when there is a user's input 302 to a second UI object 321having a function of defining an interaction in which object A moves asa response to the user's drag trigger, the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the execution mode. Since the execution mode is used tosimulate a prototype in the simulation area 340, there is no problem insimulating the prototype even if a UI object outside the simulation area340 is disabled. In addition, since the user can concentrate on thesimulation area 340 if the UI object outside the simulation area 340 isdisabled, the user's intuition of a mode switch of the work area 330 tothe execution mode is increased.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area 330 isswitched to the execution mode, the frame 341 may be added to surroundthe outside of the simulation area 340 of the prototyping tool, or themouse pointer 302 and 402 may be changed as described in FIGS. 6 and 7,thereby increasing the user's intuition of the mode switch.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of switching a mode of awork area of a digital content authoring tool by limiting a user inputto an area outside a simulation area when the work area is in anexecution mode according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 15, a digital content authoring terminal executes thedigital content authoring tool in an edit mode in operation S701. When auser first executes the digital content authoring tool to start digitalcontent authoring, the user edits a GUI of digital content first byadding objects constituting the digital content. Therefore, the workarea of the digital content authoring tool starts in the edit mode.

If the user selects a second UI object to edit dynamic elements inoperation S702, the user is highly likely to execute the digital contentso as to check whether the digital content correctly responds to atrigger intended by the user or to perform editing similar to thefunction of the second UI object. Therefore, the mode of the work areaof the digital content authoring tool is switched to the execution modein operation S703. If the work area is already in the execution modebefore the user's input is received, the mode of the work area may notbe switched.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area is switchedto the edit mode, a pointer and a GUI of the digital content authoringtool may be changed. Accordingly, the user can intuitively recognize themode switch in operation S704.

In addition, when the work area of the digital content authoring tool isin the execution mode, a UI object outside the simulation area may bedisabled. Since the user simulates the digital content in the simulationarea in the execution mode, the user can concentrate on the simulationarea if the UI object outside the simulation area is disabled.

When there is an input to the UI object outside the simulation area, themode of the work area of the digital content authoring tool is switchedagain to the edit mode because it is considered that the user intends toedit the GUI of the digital content.

According to an embodiment, when the mode of the work area is switchedto the edit mode, the pointer and a GUI of the work area may be changed.Accordingly, the user can intuitively recognize the mode switch inoperation S706.

The automatic mode switching of the work area described above may berepeatedly performed according to the user's input while the user usesthe digital content authoring tool.

The digital content authoring terminal 110 will now be described indetail with reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagramof a digital content authoring terminal 110 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16, the digital content authoring terminal 110 of FIG.1 may include a processor 801, a memory 802, a display 803, a networkinterface 804, and a storage 805. In addition, although not illustrated,the digital content authoring terminal 110 may include an input unit(not illustrated) for receiving various inputs from a user of theauthoring terminal 110.

The processor 801 controls the overall operation of each element of theauthoring terminal 110. The processor 801 may include a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a micro-processor unit (MPU), a micro-controllerunit (MCU), or any form of processor well known in the art to which thepresent disclosure pertains. In addition, the processor 801 may performan operation on at least one application or program for executingmethods according to embodiments. The authoring terminal 110 may includeone or more processors.

The memory 802 stores various data, commands and/or information. Thememory 802 may load one or more programs 806 from the storage 805 inorder to execute a digital content authoring method of an interfaceaccording to embodiments.

The display 803 may include a display module which displays a GUI of adigital content authoring tool. The display 803 may provide variousinformation by displaying UI objects for editing layers on the GUI, UIobjects for editing triggers and responses, and a work area and asimulation area for displaying digital content being authored.

In addition, the display 803 may receive a user input for controllingthe digital content authoring terminal 110. According to an embodiment,the input/output unit may receive a user input through an input device.For example, a user input may be received through a separate inputdevice such as a keyboard or a tablet computer or through a displayhaving a touch screen.

The network interface 804 supports wired and wireless Internetcommunication of the authoring terminal 110. In addition, the networkinterface 804 may support various communication methods other thanInternet communication. To this end, the network interface 804 mayinclude various communication modules.

The network interface 804 may transmit digital content of an interfacegenerated through the Internet to an execution terminal 110. In thiscase, the execution terminal 120 may display the received digitalcontent and display objects of the displayed digital content.

The storage 805 may non-temporarily store data received from an externaldevice. The storage 805 may include a non-volatile memory such as a readonly memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory, a hard disk, aremovable disk, or any form of computer-readable recording medium wellknown in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

The storage 805 may store one or more programs 806 for performingmethods according to embodiments. In FIG. 3, digital content authoringsoftware is illustrated as an example of the programs 806. The storage805 may receive inputs and various setting details required for digitalcontent authoring from the execution terminal 120 or the user of theauthoring terminal 110 and store the received information.

Although the configuration and operation of the authoring terminal 110have been mainly described above, the above embodiment may apply thesame to the execution terminal 120 if the execution terminal 120performs a digital content authoring method according to an embodiment.That is, in the description of the authoring terminal 110, embodimentsrelated to the execution of digital content may apply the same to theexecution terminal 120. In addition, the execution terminal 120 mayinclude each element of the authoring terminal 110.

The methods according to the embodiments described above can beperformed by the execution of a computer program implemented ascomputer-readable code. The computer program may be transmitted from afirst computing device to a second computing device through a networksuch as the Internet and may be installed in the second computing deviceand thus used in the second computing device. Examples of the firstcomputing device and the second computing device include fixed computingdevices such as servers, physical servers belonging to server pools forcloud services, and desktop PCs.

The computer program may be stored in a recording medium such as aDVD-ROM or a flash memory.

The concepts of the invention described can be embodied ascomputer-readable code on a computer-readable medium. Thecomputer-readable medium may be, for example, a removable recordingmedium (a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a USB storage device, or aremovable hard disc) or a fixed recording medium (a ROM, a RAM, or acomputer-embedded hard disc). The computer program recorded on thecomputer-readable recording medium may be transmitted to anothercomputing apparatus via a network such as the Internet and installed inthe computing apparatus. Hence, the computer program can be used in thecomputing apparatus.

Although operations are shown in a specific order in the drawings, itshould not be understood that desired results can be obtained when theoperations must be performed in the specific order or sequential orderor when all of the operations must be performed. In certain situations,multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. According tothe above-described embodiments, it should not be understood that theseparation of various configurations is necessarily required, and itshould be understood that the described program components and systemsmay generally be integrated together into a single software product orbe packaged into multiple software products.

While the present invention has been particularly illustrated anddescribed with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes inform and detail may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive senseonly and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for presenting an interface forauthoring a digital content performed by a computing device, the methodcomprising: providing a work area within an interface for authoring adigital content, the work area being operable in a plurality of modes,wherein the digital content being authored is displayed in the workarea; and switching the mode of the work area in response to a userselection of a first user interface (UI) object for executing a firstfunction, the first function being other than switching the mode of thework area, wherein the interface for authoring the digital content is aninterface for prototyping an application, and wherein the interfaceincludes UI objects for assigning a trigger or a response to an objectincluded in an application prototype.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of modes comprise: an edit mode for editing the digitalcontent; and an execution mode for simulating the digital content. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the first UI object is one of a pluralityof UI objects for modifying a static characteristic of an objectincluded in the digital content, and wherein the switching the mode ofthe work area comprises switching the work area to the edit mode.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the first UI object is one of a plurality ofUI objects, within the interface, for modifying a dynamic characteristicof an object included in the digital content being authored, and whereinthe switching the mode of the work area comprises switching the workarea to the execution mode.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the workarea includes a simulation area for simulating the digital content beingauthored.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the switching the mode ofthe work area comprises: switching the work area to an execution mode,the execution mode being for simulating the digital content; anddisplaying in a disabled state an area outside of the simulation area.7. The method of claim 6, wherein switching the work area to theexecution mode comprises displaying a frame surrounding the simulationarea.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein switching the work area to theexecution mode comprises: displaying a first object located inside ofthe simulation area; and hiding a second object located outside of thesimulation area, wherein the first object and the second object areobjects included in the digital content.
 9. The method of claim 6,wherein switching the work area to the execution mode comprises changinga shape of a pointing means in response to detecting the pointing meansentering the simulation area from outside of the simulation area.
 10. Amethod for presenting an interface for authoring a digital contentperformed by a computing device, the method comprising: providing a workarea within an interface for authoring a digital content, wherein thedigital content being authored is displayed in the work area; andproviding, within the work area, a simulation area for simulating thedigital content being authored; and switching a mode of the work area inresponse to detecting a user input outside of the simulation area,wherein the user input detected outside of the simulation area is not aninput intended for switching the mode of the work area.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein providing the simulation area comprises displayingin a disabled state an area outside of the simulation area.
 12. A methodfor presenting an interface for authoring a digital content performed bya computing device, the method comprising: providing, within aninterface for authoring a digital content, a first area, a second area,and a work area, wherein the digital content being authored is displayedin work area; switching a mode of the work area to a first mode inresponse to detecting a user input within the first area; and switchingthe mode of the work area to a second mode in response to detecting auser input within the second area, wherein switching the mode of thework area to the first mode comprises: switching the mode of the workarea to the first mode in response to detecting a pointing meansentering the first area from outside of the first mode, or switching themode of the work area to the first mode in response to detecting theuser input for more than a predetermined time within the first area. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein the first mode is an edit mode forediting the digital content, and wherein the second mode is an executionmode for simulating the digital content.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein the work area includes a simulation area for simulating thedigital content being authored, and wherein switching the mode of thework area to the second mode comprises displaying in a disabled state anarea outside of the simulation area.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the oneor more programs comprising instructions, which, when executed by acomputing device, cause the computing device to: provide a work areawithin an interface for authoring a digital content, the work area beingoperable in a plurality of modes, wherein the digital content beingauthored is displayed in the work area; and switch the mode of the workarea in response to a user selection of a first user interface (UI)object for executing a first function, the first function being otherthan switching the mode of the work area, wherein the interface forauthoring the digital content is an interface for prototyping anapplication, and wherein the interface includes UI objects for assigninga trigger or a response to an object included in an applicationprototype.